Article encapsulating apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 J. H. BOLT ETAL 2,957,291

ARTICLE ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a. rrae/vzz Oct. 25, 1960 J. H. BOLT ETAL ARTICLE ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1958 Oct. 25, 1960 J. H. BOLT ETAL ARTICLE ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS 10 m a w w a 5 H ZH f 8 m M k t. .y m5: d a F m/mvraes amaozr leggy/(4141a I 47-7-02 n/n United States Patent ARTICLE ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS John H; Bolt, Cicero, and Robert W. Strickland, Oak

Park, Ill., assignors to Western Electric Company, IncYorplgrated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Filed Oct. 24, 1958, Ser- No. 7 69,389

2 Claims; (Cl. 53-379) This invention relates to article encapsulating apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for encapsulating deposited carbon resistors within plastic sleeves or protective housings.

Deposited carbon resistors are formed by depositing a layer of carbon on the surface of a ceramic body and then scraping away portions of the carbon coating to leave a thin uniform coating or a helical trace of carbon which serves as a resistance portion. By varying the lead or number of turns and hence the length of the helix, or by varying the thickness of the uniform coating, any resistance value between certain maximum and minimum limits can be produced. Terminal leads are then secured to the ends of the ceramic body and in electrical connection with the ends of the helical carbon trace. Since the carbon trace is on the surface of the ceramic body, it is necessary to encase the resistor in a sleeve or protective housing to prevent damage.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved article encapsulating apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which will insert resistors into protective sleeves and then deform the sleeves so as to retain the resistors therein.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which will insert resistors into heat deformable plastic sleeves and then apply heat and pressure to the extremities of the sleeves to constn'ct the openings therein and thus secure the resistors within the sleeves.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a first drum provided with a plurality of transverse peripheral grooves for the reception of resistors and sleeves in positions of axial alignment. A cam which is helical with respect to the first drum is provided for the purpose of causing the resistors to slide into the sleeves as the drum is rotated relative to the cam. A second drum is provided to receive the sleeves and resistors after the resistors have been inserted into the sleeve by the action of the first drum. The second drum is provided with a plurality of transverse peripheral rollers which serve to rotatably support the sleeves with resistors therein. As the second drum rotates, a friction member engages and rotates the sleeves between the peripheral rollers. A pair of heated forming members are positioned to engage the extremities of the rotating sleeves to soften and round the extremities of the sleeves to constrict the openings and retain the resistor bodies within the sleeves.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation View of an apparatus embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the path followed by sleeves and resistors passing through the apparatus;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional and elevation views, respectively, of a completed assembly showing a sleeve with the extremities thereof rounded to confine a resistor therein;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and illustrates a sleeve and a resistor resting in a peripheral groove formed in an inserting drum just after having dropped from a pair of magazines into the groove;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and illustrates a resistor partially inserted into a sleeve as a result of the action of a helical cam pro vided for this purpose;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 77 of Fig. 2 and illustrates sleeves with resistors inserted therein falling into a zig-zag guideway which leads to a forming drum; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 2 and illustrates a sleeve with a resistor therein in engagement with peripheral rollers carried by the forming drum, a friction member which causes the sleeve to rotate, and a pair of heated forming members which soften and deform the extremities of the sleeve to confine the resistors therein.

Attention now is directed to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views and wherein is disclosed an apparatus which forms the completed assemblies illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This apparatus inserts resistors 11 leaving wire terminals extending therefrom into plastic sleeves 12 and then heat softens and deforms the sleeves 12 to form rounded extremities 13 thereon which confine the resistors within the sleeves and result in the completed assemblies designated generally by the reference numeral 14.

The apparatus comprises a frame 15 which mounts pillow blocks 16. An inserting drum 18 is secured to a shaft 19 and is rotatably mounted between the pillow blocks 16. The drum 18 is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves 20 which are slightly enlarged at their left-hand extremities (Fig. 5).

A cover 22 (Fig. 2) is secured to the frame 15 and surrounds the drum 18 in close proximity thereto. A sleeve magazine 23 and a resistor magazine 24 are secured to the top of the cover 22 and are adapted to receive and feed sleeves and resistors into positions of axial alignment in the grooves 20 of the drum 18. The cover 22 is provided with a helical slot 25 extending through the surface thereof. One wall of the slot 25 projects inwardly toward the drum 18 and forms a carnming member 26 (Fig. 5).

Upright members 28 (Figs. 1 and 2), forming a portion of the frame 15, rotatably support a shaft 29 to which is secured a forming drum 30. The drum 30 is provided with a plurality of peripheral rollers 32 which are so spaced as to provide support for the sleeves 12. The upright members 28 also mount radial support brackets 33 which in turn support an arcuate member 34 by means of interconnecting pins 35. The arcuate member 34 supports an arcuate insulator 37 (Figs. 2 and 8). The insulator 37 is provided with an interior recess within which is secured a rubber friction member 38. A pair of forming members 39 are fixed to the insulator 37. Each of the forming members 39 is provided with an'electric or other heater 40which may be energized by a suitable source of electrical power (not shown).

A drive motor 42 (Fig. l) and roller chain 43 is provided to rotate the shaft 29. A second roller chain 44 interconnects the shafts 19 and 29 so that the two shafts will rotate in synchronism upon energizaion of the motor 42.

3 Operation In order that a better understanding of the invention may be had, its mode of operation will now be described. The magazines 23 and 24 are first loaded with sleeves andresistors, respectively. The heaters .40 are then energized and permitted to warm to operating temperature. The motor '42 is then energized so that the drum 18 begins to rotate. .As each successive groove 20 is moved beneath the magazines 23 and 24, a resistor 11 drops from the magazine'24 into the groove 20 (Fig. 5) and 'a sleeve 12 drops from the magazine 23 into the enlarged portion of the groove 20. As the drum 18 rotates, the depending wall 26' of the slot 25 engages one extremity of the resistor 11 and slides it along'the groove .20 toward the sleeve 12. 'A retaining spring 46 (Figs. 2 and 6) is secured to the frame 15 and projects into the slot 25,, at a point where the slot is substantially vertical and serves to preclude the resistors 11 from falling out of the grooves 20. Below the spring 46 the slot 25 diminishes in width and eventually terminates so that the lower portion of the cover 22 then serves to hold the resistors in' the grooves 20 until they enter the sleeves 12.

i Asthe resistors and the sleeves approach the bottom of the cover 22, the cam 26 finishes pushing the resistors into the sleeves. At this'time the'sleeves are engaged by an ejector pin 47 (Figs. 2 and 7) which deflects the sleeves through the opening at the bottom of the cover 22'and into a zig-zag guideway 48. The guideway 48 is constructed with frequent changes of direction to insure that the'sleeves and resistors will descend without becoining cocked and jamming the guideway.

- Withthe drive motor 42 running, the forming drum 30 will also be rotating. The guideway 48 is so positioned relative to the drum 30 that one sleeve and resistor'combination will'fall from the guideway 48 between each pair of peripheral rollers 32. As the drum 30 continues to rotate, each sleeve will be engaged by V the rubber friction member 38 and caused to rotate between the adjacent rollers 32. Continued movement of the drum 30 will bring the rotating sleeve into engagement with the forming members 39. Each of the forminglmembers 39 is provided with an arcuate cutout portion 50 (Fig. 8) which is adapted to form the rounded portions 13 which are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Since the forming members 39 are heated by the heaters 40,

the extremities of the sleeve 12 will be softened by the heated forming members and cause to conform to the contours of the'cutout portions 50. Since the sleeves are rotated due to the influence of the friction member 38," the. extremities of the sleeve will be completely rounded, as shown in Fig; 4, 'by the time the sleeve and resistor combinations have been moved completely through the apparatus.

' A guide 51 (Fig. 2) is provided to hold the completed assemblies 14 against the peripheral rollers 32 after the assemblies have cleared the ends of the friction member 38 and the forming members 39. The completed assemblies 14 then roll down an inclined portion of the guide 51 and into a suitable receptacle 52.

Thus it can be seen that an apparatus has been provided which will rapidly and automatically encapsulate resistors within protective plastic sleeves. It is obvious, of course, that with slight modification the apparatus would be suitable for the encapsulation of various types of articles. For example, the cam 26 could be relocated so that the sleeves were pushed over the resistors rather than the resistors being pushed into the sleeves should this be desirable. 'It would also be possible to provide reciprocably-mounted, cup-shaped heating members which are rotated wl'n'le the sleeves are maintained in one position. Such heaters would be advanced into engagement with the sleeves, rotated to form the extremities of the sleeves, and then retracted when the forming had been completed. Similar modifications may be readily envisioned upon consideration of the foregoing description.

It is to beunderstood that the specific components of structure described above are merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those-skilled in the art to achieve a similarapparatus which will still embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. 1 A

What is claimed is:

1. An an assembling apparatus, a drum having a series of spaced peripheral grooves, a first stack for feeding first articles to the'grooves, a second stack for feeding second articles to the grooves, means for rotating the drum to successively present the grooves to said first and second stacks to remove successive articles therefrom, a curvilinearrplate mounted adjacent the periphery of the drum, said plate having a slot formed therein terminating at the second stackand running angularly toward the path of movement of articles fed from the first stack, a cam projecting from the plate along one wall of the slot for moving the second articles toward the first as the drum rotates, a carrier for receiving each pair of articles advanced toward each other, means for transferring the articles from the drum to the carrier, means for advancing the carrier in unison with the rotation of the drum, and means rendered efiective by the advance of the carrier, for'securing each pair of articles together.

2. An apparatus for encapsulating resistors within heat deformable plastic sleeves comprising a first drumiprovided with a plurality of transverse grooves for positioning sleeves and resistors in axial registry, means for feeding a sleeve and a resistor to each successive groove as said first drum rotates, means for effecting relative movement of the sleeves and the resistors within the grooves to assemble the resistors within the sleeves, a second drum, a plurality of rollers transversely mounted on the periphery of said second drum, means for removing sleeve and resistor assemblies from said first drum and depositing the assemblies between adjacent rollersv on said second drum as saidsecond drum rotates, drive means for imparting rotative. movement to said first and second drums, an arcuate friction member positioned adjacent said second drum and adapted to engage the sleeves. as said second drum rotates to cause the sleeves to rotate between said friction member and said peripheral rollers, and arcuate shaped heating means positioned adjacent'said second drum and adapted to engage the extremities of the rotating sleeves to deform said extremities and reduce the openings therein to a size which will preclude withdrawal of the resistors from the sleeves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,894 7 Rober Sept. 20, 1927 1,816,080 Ferguson July 28, 1931 1,984,894 Rose Dec. 18, 1934 2,624,165 Gamble Jan. 6, 1953 2,695,484 Wilmer Nov. 30, 1954 2,739,432 Hirschey Mar. 27, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,957,291 October 25, 196

John H. Bolt et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 17, for "An': read In Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L.. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

